Velocipede



2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

(N0 Model.) n

l J. BAKER.

VELOGPEDE.

Patented Feb.27, 1883.

v II

mii.:

:ginie www x wlw, Y E :E mi w u ag: d @T ,LE-s@ k lull" 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. BAKER.

VBL'oc-IPEDB.

No. 273.007. Patente'd Feb'.i27.1883.

Wv'bwss es.'

n PETERS 'Phmuuw' mphef, w

UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BAKER, 0F ST. LGUIS, MISSOURI.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,007, dated February 27, 1883.

Application tiled September 13, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J'AMEs BAKER, of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being-had to the accom pany ing drawings, and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon, which form part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my velocipede complete. Fig. 2 is an elevation ot' one side of the velocipede with the two nearest wheels removed to better expose the parts. Fig. 3 isa View in detail showing a section of one end of the axle, its arm and a part of the main frame bearing on a box, Ythrough which the axle passes.

Similar letters o'f Vreference indicate correspondingparts in the three figures.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements on four-wheel velocipedes or wagons7 which are construe-ted to be propelled by man-power; and the nature of my invention and improvements consists mainly in a novel constructionof the main frame, whereby lightness and great strength are combined, and whereby bearings are afforded for the axles of the front and rear transporting-wheels; also for the front chain-wheel for the drivers seat, and fulcra are afforded for the treadles, lall of which will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

The-main framevA of the machine is preferably made of gaspipes for lightness and strength, and it is composed of a rear straight transverse bar, parallel side bars, which latter are contracted in front so that the general horizontal contour of this main frame, which I now letter A, is that of a bottle. The side bars or tubes of this frame are of one piece, bent in the shape shown in Fig. l, and the rear transverse bar or tube is secured by L- couplings 'to the rear ends of the side bars. The object of thus constructing the frame A is to give considerable breadth of bearing at `and near the rear part for supporting the person who propels the machine, and to afford freedom for turning the two front wheels in guiding the machine around curves. 1n order (No model.)

| to perfect this frame, I employ two longitudinal Hat bars, B B, which possess more or less elasticity. These bas B B are rigidly secured by bolts or other suitable means to the rear transverse bar or tube of the frame A, equidistant from the median longitudinal line thereof. They are parallel to each other and they extend from their points of rigid attachl ment to the said rear transverse bar of the framenA to points a a. These bars are then bent so as to form stirrnps of angular form,

and their front ends are rigidly secured to the front curved end of the frame A.

The stirrups I now letter C C, and they are adapted for a purpose hereinafter explained. At the front angles of the stirrups C C they are rigidly secured to a transverse bar, D, the ends of which are bolted fast to the contracted parallel bars or tubes ot' the main frame A. It will be seen that the longitudinal bars B B serve as springs or a buck-board for the seat E, which is suitably mounted on these bars,`

and made vertically'adjust-able by any wellknown means. This seat is also sustained upon the rear laterally-extended part of the main framein any suitable manner. The frame and other parts which I have above described I mount on four transporting-wheels.

The two rear wheels, F F, may be made very light and tired with rubber, and the rim or fellies may be secured to hubs spread apart on a sleeve, G, to which they are suitably and rigidly secured. The sleeves of the two wheels F are applied on the arms of the rear axle, H, and are rigidlysecured thereto, so as to turn with it, by jam ming the sleeves G of the wheels against shoulders b on the axle H, employing nuts, c, for the purpose, and also keys. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 3 that the rear axle is annularly grooved and that the groove on each side receives corresponding ribs formed on a duplex or sectional box, I, which isrigidly bolted to the under side ofthe rear transverse portions of the main frame A. It will thus be seen that the weight of the person on the seat bears upon the longitudinal bars of the main frame, and that there is al journal-box which may be hushed to sustain the weight of the person and to atl'ord on each side a durable support. The manner of grooving the axle and adapting bearing-boxes therefor prevents ICO endwise play, and also prevents undue vibral the teeth on thel periphery of a chain-wheel,

tion while traveling over rough roads. The springy perch Ialso prevents shocks to the man who is sitting upon the seat and propelling the machine.

J designates a transverse tie-bar, which is connected by clips e e to the contracted part of the frame A. 'lo this bar a bolster, K, is rigidly secured by clips L, or in any other suitable manner, and by means of an axle-tree, L', the front Wheels are applied in a similar manner described for the rear wheels, with this eX- ception, that the iront axle is allowed to swivel about a king-bolt, L2, and the lower eyev of aloop, M, which is rigidly secured to the bolster K.

To the front axle I suitably pivot the bifurcated end of a hand-lever, 1t, which is'of sufficient length to extend back within reach ofthe person on the seat of the machine, so that he can manipulate the guide-wheels at pleasure.

I will now describe the means which I have invented for propelling the velocipede.

S designates a stirrup which is bolted to the cross-bar and longitudinal bars B B, and which is also bolted in rear of said points to a crossbar and to said longitudinal bars. At the base of this stirrup 1 secure the bearing or journal boxes T fon the shaft of the front chain-wheel, U, on which shaft are cranksff, arranged in the same plane. In other words, the wristpins of the 'said cranks are dia-metrically opposite each other, as shown in Fig. 2.

To the cross-bar g, which connects the lower ends ofthe stirrups of the longitudinal perchbars B B,are applied or formed studs, on which are fulcrumed the two treadles Q Q, which are. pivoted at L to links i, that are themselves pivoted to the arms ofthe cranksf, above referred to. rIhe rear extensions ot' the treadles Q Q are so located that they are convenient to the feet ofthe person sitting upon the seat E. The endless chain engages with the teeth on the periphery ofthe chain-wheel \V,and also with W', keyed on the axle of the rear transporting-wheels. The pivotal connections l1I ot' the links z', with the treadles, are made in the following manner: I use bolts on which may be applied anti-friction tubes or rollers j, which play freely in slots 7c, made longitudinally through or below the said treadles. If the treadles are-made of wood, the slots or guides may be made by straps applied to their lower edges. If they are made of metal, the slots or.

guides may be made directly through them. The object of allowing the lower ends of the links to play freely in slots formed through or below the treadles, and thus to receive independent vibration of these treadles, is to shorten the leverage of the treadles during their descending strokes, and thus afford greater pnrchase to the feet of the person operating the machine.

Having described my invention, I claim as newl. In a velocipede, the combination of the tubular frame A, the two longitudinal bars B B, adapted to brace and tie said trame, the seat E, mounted on said bars, the cross-bar D, rigidly secured to the frame A and to bars B B,

and the stirrups C U, forming partof the latter, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

2. In a velocipede, the combination, with the treadles Q Q, the linkst't', the chain-wheel and its cranks, of the anti-friction rollers j,

playing freelyin slots l.: of the treadles, formed 

